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Rum Group marks 18 years of fusing folk, urban music

By Suzanna Goussous - Aug 24,2016 - Last updated at Aug 24,2016

Rum Group’s Tareq Al Nasser performs during a recent concert (Photo courtesy of Rum Group)

AMMAN — Rum Group, a band born in Irbid’s youth clubs, was performing its unique fusion of folk songs and urban music long before the art scene started to flourish in Jordan. 

“When we created Rum, there was only one other band playing music in Jordan… Independent bands started creating music in 2005, with Time of Thyme, Autostrad, El Morabba3 and Zaed Naes entering the genre,” said Tareq Al Nasser.  

Nasser formed Rum with Russol Al Nasser in 1999 to link Jordanian folklore with modern life, he told The Jordan Times in a recent interview. 

This year, Rum celebrates its 18th anniversary, and over the years, Amman has become more receptive to new music, Nasser said. 

The band collaborates with musicians from across Jordan, including traditional dabkah dance groups and artists from Ramtha, Irbid and Aqaba, he added. 

The musician aims to “unite people under one umbrella — music”, he said, adding that musical shows are a way to chronicle the events and people of the country.

Nasser also tries to feature bands and musical groups in Rum’s shows from the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Egypt, Tunisia, the UK, the US and other countries to “take the show to the next level”.

“The dream starts big when one is young. Then, gradually, the dream starts becoming reality and taking a new form.... This was the energy that kept me motivated,” he said.

Nasser started playing music at a young age, but says he faced difficulties in the early days.

“Faith in the younger generation before wasn’t like the situation nowadays; you had to make a mark in order to survive. When you’re on the right track, the path itself guides and leads you to the next step.” 

As a young musician, Nasser says he felt pressure to prove his success was not fleeting, or by chance. 

“It isn’t easy to become an artist, but when you want to, you will reach your goal.” 

For Nasser, independent musical groups in the Arab world are “surviving”, but the increasing number of bands and groups means that profits, and audiences, must be shared more widely. 

Several bands have contributed to putting Jordan on the cultural map of the region, he noted. 

“Jordanian youths are active; they want to achieve, to accomplish their dreams.”

The art scene in Jordan is seasonal, Nasser said, explaining that there are many concerts and festivals throughout summer, but few shows in winter. 

“In summer, many events held by privately-owned organisations take place in Amman; some are funded by European countries. I believe that we should find a way to communicate with people in other governorates,” he said.

The arts scene in Jordan started to grow in 2002, when Amman was named cultural capital of the Arab world, which motivated people to start bands and produce music, Nasser said. 

“This opened the door for local artists to encourage us to enter the field and to move forward with our music,” he added, although he noted that musical groups still face financial challenges.  

Nasser advised young musicians to connect with their heritage.

“The audience likes to remember old folk songs. I advise young artists to communicate with the past, to link it to new musical works. In Jordan, we have a gap between the older generation and the new generation,” he added

 

“Music is a tool to be happy, to be in a healthier state of mind. It spreads positivity…. The energy we give to the audience and the audience gives back to us is very important for artists.”

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